Mark Fraser
@mark37m.bsky.social
Building http://middleton.coop @MiddCooperating
Working with visionary people and organisations to transform our local community/economy in Middleton. Personal views here. Previously @MarkMark37m on the twitter.
Working with visionary people and organisations to transform our local community/economy in Middleton. Personal views here. Previously @MarkMark37m on the twitter.
Panorama has been crap for years but I hadn't realised Dispatches had gone the same way. Bizarre tabloid-style "investigative documentary" last night, very gentle on Jonathan Rees and Paul Dacre, and full of pre-trial insinuations about Hacked Off. What are Channel 4 Dispatches really up to here?
December 12, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Panorama has been crap for years but I hadn't realised Dispatches had gone the same way. Bizarre tabloid-style "investigative documentary" last night, very gentle on Jonathan Rees and Paul Dacre, and full of pre-trial insinuations about Hacked Off. What are Channel 4 Dispatches really up to here?
Reposted by Mark Fraser
The real asylum scandal is the incompetence of the Home Office inews.co.uk/opinion/the-...
December 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The real asylum scandal is the incompetence of the Home Office inews.co.uk/opinion/the-...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
This is a welcome & reflective intervention. 'Overdiagnosis' is a simplistic & stigmatising explanation for what, in reality, is a complex interplay of health, social & economic factors. The focus should be on getting people the right support at the right time www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I realise now that my view on mental health overdiagnosis was divisive. We all need better evidence | Wes Streeting
The surge in mental ill health is hugely distressing. That’s why I’ve commissioned a review to find out what’s driving it, says health secretary Wes Streeting
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:47 AM
This is a welcome & reflective intervention. 'Overdiagnosis' is a simplistic & stigmatising explanation for what, in reality, is a complex interplay of health, social & economic factors. The focus should be on getting people the right support at the right time www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
You would think the alleged indiscretions of the schoolboy Nigel Farage would have drawn outrage from a just, impartial British media. Strangely, it seems they have not.
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
November 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
You would think the alleged indiscretions of the schoolboy Nigel Farage would have drawn outrage from a just, impartial British media. Strangely, it seems they have not.
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
Thank GOD for Andrew Fisher!! FINALLY we get to hear about Spain on #r4today
The fastest growing economy in Europe & outstripping the US as well & how?
Wealth tax, rent controls & a positive integration-focused approach to immigration & asylum!! 🙌👏👏👏
The fastest growing economy in Europe & outstripping the US as well & how?
Wealth tax, rent controls & a positive integration-focused approach to immigration & asylum!! 🙌👏👏👏
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Thank GOD for Andrew Fisher!! FINALLY we get to hear about Spain on #r4today
The fastest growing economy in Europe & outstripping the US as well & how?
Wealth tax, rent controls & a positive integration-focused approach to immigration & asylum!! 🙌👏👏👏
The fastest growing economy in Europe & outstripping the US as well & how?
Wealth tax, rent controls & a positive integration-focused approach to immigration & asylum!! 🙌👏👏👏
Reposted by Mark Fraser
ICYMI, this is great stuff. both better designed and more comprehensive than Biden's child tax credit boost www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/11/20/r...
Rep. Tlaib’s Economic Dignity for All Agenda Would Bring Economic Security for Millions
The agenda would lower poverty by 42% and child poverty by two-thirds.
www.peoplespolicyproject.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
ICYMI, this is great stuff. both better designed and more comprehensive than Biden's child tax credit boost www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/11/20/r...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
“This is a chance to do regeneration differently... that means using co-operative principles, so people feel genuinely involved in shaping the town’s future.” There's exciting things about to happen in a Greater Manchester town 👇 buff.ly/d9rKvse
November 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM
“This is a chance to do regeneration differently... that means using co-operative principles, so people feel genuinely involved in shaping the town’s future.” There's exciting things about to happen in a Greater Manchester town 👇 buff.ly/d9rKvse
"Cruel policies do not make people seeking protection disappear, and do not placate the anti-migrant politicians, media, or racist elements in society". Cruel incompetence from the Labour Together gang in control of the government. Has the PLP got the sense and the courage to say "enough is enough"?
Shabana Mahmood is wrong - Another cowardly attack on immigrants does not hide the incompetence of the Starmer government.
Me, for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Me, for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Shabana Mahmood is wrong
Another cowardly attack on immigrants does not hide the incompetence of the Starmer government
www.newstatesman.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
"Cruel policies do not make people seeking protection disappear, and do not placate the anti-migrant politicians, media, or racist elements in society". Cruel incompetence from the Labour Together gang in control of the government. Has the PLP got the sense and the courage to say "enough is enough"?
Reposted by Mark Fraser
Most asylum seekers arrive with their valuables long lost in bombed or abandoned homes, stolen, or sold to afford the dangerous clandestine passage to safety
The real thing of value to be snatched from refugees under these proposals is far more painful: their families & futures
Me, for @zeteo.com
The real thing of value to be snatched from refugees under these proposals is far more painful: their families & futures
Me, for @zeteo.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Most asylum seekers arrive with their valuables long lost in bombed or abandoned homes, stolen, or sold to afford the dangerous clandestine passage to safety
The real thing of value to be snatched from refugees under these proposals is far more painful: their families & futures
Me, for @zeteo.com
The real thing of value to be snatched from refugees under these proposals is far more painful: their families & futures
Me, for @zeteo.com
Reposted by Mark Fraser
"The Government's proposals are “a re-run of the worst and failed policies of the last [Conservative] government – to appease those people asking for more and more hate.” - Rivka, Communications Manager and Policy Officer @ GMIAU.
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by home secretary’s asylum seeker comments
Bishop of Edmonton says people coming to UK are being ‘scapegoated’ for years of policy failures
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
"The Government's proposals are “a re-run of the worst and failed policies of the last [Conservative] government – to appease those people asking for more and more hate.” - Rivka, Communications Manager and Policy Officer @ GMIAU.
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
👇Read more: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
Reposted by Mark Fraser
If this really is what is being proposed, I think adding the jewellery confiscation policy + the 20 year policy could kick off the kind of PLP revolt that (without rapid u-turn) could entirely destabilise a struggling government that risks falling over on every front
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3734007...
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3734007...
Small boat migrants to have jewellery & assets seized to pay for accommodation
ILLEGAL migrants’ valuables such as jewellery and watches will be seized and sold to pay towards their accommodation costs, The Sun can reveal today. Necklaces and chains — but not wedding rings — …
www.thesun.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 12:10 AM
If this really is what is being proposed, I think adding the jewellery confiscation policy + the 20 year policy could kick off the kind of PLP revolt that (without rapid u-turn) could entirely destabilise a struggling government that risks falling over on every front
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3734007...
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3734007...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
So you've come to the UK fleeing war or persecution, you're granted refugee status, you live here for 18 years during which time you build a life, career and family, and then the govt deems the country you came from safe and deports you.
November 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
So you've come to the UK fleeing war or persecution, you're granted refugee status, you live here for 18 years during which time you build a life, career and family, and then the govt deems the country you came from safe and deports you.
Reposted by Mark Fraser
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
I hate this policy so much. It's simply morally wrong.
I wrote this a few months ago about how emotional it was seeing a refugee I once hosted get his citizenship and, finally, be safe and welcomed.
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
I wrote this a few months ago about how emotional it was seeing a refugee I once hosted get his citizenship and, finally, be safe and welcomed.
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
November 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I hate this policy so much. It's simply morally wrong.
I wrote this a few months ago about how emotional it was seeing a refugee I once hosted get his citizenship and, finally, be safe and welcomed.
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
I wrote this a few months ago about how emotional it was seeing a refugee I once hosted get his citizenship and, finally, be safe and welcomed.
open.substack.com/pub/christin...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
Reposted by Mark Fraser
The BBC's senior leadership resigning en masse over one dodgy edit in one programme, simply because the right wing press demands it, tells you everything you need to know about where the power really lies in that relationship
November 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The BBC's senior leadership resigning en masse over one dodgy edit in one programme, simply because the right wing press demands it, tells you everything you need to know about where the power really lies in that relationship
Reposted by Mark Fraser
Great to speak at the @ethical-consumer.bsky.social conference this morning
Imagine if normal people owned more of the economy we depend on... 💰🍎💧🚄💻⚡️⚽️
Imagine if normal people owned more of the economy we depend on... 💰🍎💧🚄💻⚡️⚽️
November 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Great to speak at the @ethical-consumer.bsky.social conference this morning
Imagine if normal people owned more of the economy we depend on... 💰🍎💧🚄💻⚡️⚽️
Imagine if normal people owned more of the economy we depend on... 💰🍎💧🚄💻⚡️⚽️
Reposted by Mark Fraser
I want to use today's post to call for the government to abolish the two-child limit's sister policy, the benefit cap, which forces families to subsist far below the poverty line, often because of high housing costs a @nuffieldfoundation.org research has shown largerfamilies.study/publications...
Benefit changes and larger families
We are a group of university-based researchers investigating how families with more than two children are coping with the benefit cap or the two-child limit.
largerfamilies.study
November 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
I want to use today's post to call for the government to abolish the two-child limit's sister policy, the benefit cap, which forces families to subsist far below the poverty line, often because of high housing costs a @nuffieldfoundation.org research has shown largerfamilies.study/publications...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
I can’t envisage a child poverty strategy which garners any credibility without fully scrapping the two-child limit.
Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social
largerfamilies.study/publications...
Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social
largerfamilies.study/publications...
November 1, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I can’t envisage a child poverty strategy which garners any credibility without fully scrapping the two-child limit.
Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social
largerfamilies.study/publications...
Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social
largerfamilies.study/publications...
Reposted by Mark Fraser
A wonderful article on Royal privilege & the colossal resources of the British monarchy. Resources that in my own opinion should be national not private assets. It is time for the Royal Collection of art in particular to be in public ownership & used for the nation's benefit.
Last Wednesday a colossal statue seen by millions at Kew Gardens for 60 years was removed. The King, whose mother sent the work to Kew in 1963, wanted it back. A curious story of the exercise of Royal will www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/monarc...
The curious case of the King and the statue
A statue of Hercules admired by millions has disappeared from Kew Gardens. Why has Charles decided to remove a prime piece of public art?
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:38 AM
A wonderful article on Royal privilege & the colossal resources of the British monarchy. Resources that in my own opinion should be national not private assets. It is time for the Royal Collection of art in particular to be in public ownership & used for the nation's benefit.
Reposted by Mark Fraser
The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker.
And yet, for too long, we have been told to ask for less than that, and endure hatred and bigotry in the shadows.
No more.
And yet, for too long, we have been told to ask for less than that, and endure hatred and bigotry in the shadows.
No more.
My Message to Muslim New Yorkers — and Everyone Who Calls This City Home.
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:27 AM
The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker.
And yet, for too long, we have been told to ask for less than that, and endure hatred and bigotry in the shadows.
No more.
And yet, for too long, we have been told to ask for less than that, and endure hatred and bigotry in the shadows.
No more.
Reposted by Mark Fraser
This statement from people living in asylum hotels in Greater Manchester is a compassionate response to the rise in violent protests written by people who are living it every day. I hope it leads to more nuanced conversations and understanding. Thankyou to everyone involved in putting it together.
Recently, we have seen an increase in protests and demonstrations outside asylum hotels, driven by misinformation and fear.
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group have written a statement to respond directly to the concerns and questions they’ve heard from local communities.
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group have written a statement to respond directly to the concerns and questions they’ve heard from local communities.
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group: Our response to the protests outside hotels - GMIAU
Statement from a group in Manchester who have lived experience of living in asylum accommodation responding to the racist far-right protests
gmiau.org
October 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
This statement from people living in asylum hotels in Greater Manchester is a compassionate response to the rise in violent protests written by people who are living it every day. I hope it leads to more nuanced conversations and understanding. Thankyou to everyone involved in putting it together.
Powerful statement from people in GM who have lived in, or are still living in, asylum accommodation. Needs to be shared as widely as possible.
Recently, we have seen an increase in protests and demonstrations outside asylum hotels, driven by misinformation and fear.
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group have written a statement to respond directly to the concerns and questions they’ve heard from local communities.
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group have written a statement to respond directly to the concerns and questions they’ve heard from local communities.
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group: Our response to the protests outside hotels - GMIAU
Statement from a group in Manchester who have lived experience of living in asylum accommodation responding to the racist far-right protests
gmiau.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Powerful statement from people in GM who have lived in, or are still living in, asylum accommodation. Needs to be shared as widely as possible.
Reposted by Mark Fraser
Why is a Labour Home Secretary perpetuating this myth in The Sun?
Asylum applications in the UK are significantly below the average for all European countries. The only person helped by spreading this falsehood is Nigel Farage
Asylum applications in the UK are significantly below the average for all European countries. The only person helped by spreading this falsehood is Nigel Farage
October 23, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Why is a Labour Home Secretary perpetuating this myth in The Sun?
Asylum applications in the UK are significantly below the average for all European countries. The only person helped by spreading this falsehood is Nigel Farage
Asylum applications in the UK are significantly below the average for all European countries. The only person helped by spreading this falsehood is Nigel Farage